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David Spiegelhalter, professor of public understanding of risk at Cambridge University, said: "This is just a clear wind-up and complete nonsense."

Roger Heath-Brown, professor of pure mathematics at Oxford University, said: "Mathematically, it is complete rubbish. It is a bluff on his part, he is doing it in some other way."

Brown's latest ruse is a mass hypnotism. On Friday night, he claims viewers watching his How To Control The Nation programme on Channel 4 will be unable to get out of their seat, switch channels or turn off the television.

Howevr, the illusionist - who was plain old Darren Brown before devising his current persona - has issued a caveat. "It won't work on everybody," he said.